First published 2010
A prospective father grapples with the transforming reality of impending parenthood in contemporary Angola. As his partner's pregnancy progresses, he confronts his own fears, expectations, and assumptions about fatherhood. The approaching birth forces him to examine his relationship with his own father, his place in Angolan society, and what it means to bring new life into a world still healing from decades of conflict. Agualusa explores the intimate territory of masculine vulnerability as his protagonist navigates between excitement and terror, responsibility and freedom. The story unfolds against the backdrop of Luanda's changing landscape, where personal transformation mirrors the country's own journey toward stability. Through moments of doubt, preparation, and revelation, the narrative captures the profound shift from man to father, revealing how birth changes not just the child, but everyone it touches.
Genres: literary-fiction, family-life, african-literature, parenting
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, personal-transformation
Setting: Angola, Luanda
Period: Contemporary
137 pages · Paperback · Lisboa: Alfaguara